Too many rights

Too many rights

CATCHING UP WITH BOYDIE ON SCOTLANDS NORSE SHORE INTERVIEW BY JONNY EWART
( @markboydsurf @jonnyseasurf )


Blue bird days. Pic Thomas Horig


No pain no gain.

Q. Looked like you injured yourself pretty badly the other day Boydie, how’d that happen?

Aye, I was surfing Thurso-East, I hadn’t been in the water long I’d only had a couple waves and on my third wave I pulled in and got bucked off by the foamball and as I was going over the falls my board got forced into my leg just below my groin.

Q. Oocha, sounds sore, so will you be out of the water for a while?

I got 6 stitches in the puncture wound the nose of my board made, but weirdly there wasn’t even a mark on my wetsuit! Its more the impact of the board hitting my leg that’s sore – my hip and my thigh are so bruised its been pretty painful and haven’t really been able to move my leg until today but I’m still hobbling around. I’ve got the stitches in for a week and then hopefully the bruising and stiffness doesn’t take too much longer to heal. Hopefully just be out a couple of weeks.


Deep on he reef. Pic Grumpy Old Surfer

Q. You got a pretty good tube just before that, was it worth the injury?

My first couple of waves were pretty decent; a double barrel (I didn’t quite make the second one) and then the one just before was probably my best barrel of the year so that was a bit of a consolation I suppose! Haha. Don’t think anyone was filming though unfortunately.

Q. Hows your season been so far?

We’ve had a good start to the season, plenty swells and we’ve had some good winds too.

Q. Tell me about the crowds in Thurso these days?

Its pretty crazy now. There were 50 people in the water at Thurso-East alone a few swells ago. Was hoping to enjoy it being a bit quieter with this lockdown again but there are a lot of people who live and surf here now too, so there’s always a crowd these days.

Q. How has Covid affected you? How have you found it having a year out of competing?

The Scottish Nationals was cancelled this year because of Covid so it was disappointing not to get a chance to get 3 in a row. I had also hoped to do the full UK Pro Surf Tour, which was also cancelled, so fingers crossed events can run next year. That said however it has allowed me to do a bit of extra work offshore and save some cash – I did a 16 week trip on a cable lay ship over the first lockdown period, not really by choice but because we got stuck due to crew change restrictions because of Covid. So that was a long stint without surfing but means I can take more of the winter off when we have waves at home.

Q. So tell us about this edit

The edit is a collection of footage from various filmers but mostly Malcolm Anderson (@malsurf) who I have so much to thank for. Mal is so dedicated to filming on the good days in Thurso its always amazing to analyse footage afterwards and he captures so many great memories. Most of the footage is from Thurso or nearby with a little bit of France and Portugal thrown in and it was all filmed over the last year or so. I’d also like to thank @perrygershkow @_mark_mason @oscrjmsmedia @didierpitersurfcoach @jasurfproject @grumpyoldsurfer @will_nangle for the additional clips and @mr_rupo for his editing input.

Follow Boydie on
Instagram: @markboydsurf
Facebook: Facebook.com/markboydsurferscotland

Follow Malcolm Anderson on
Instagram: @malsurf

Please credit photographers for photos:

Andre Silva @andreinnit
Thomas Horig @thomashorig
Grumpy Old Surfer

Week Before: JJF

Week Before: JJF

The North Shore had an amazing run of waves from December 1st to December 7th from Pipe and Backdoor to the outer reefs.  For John, this was the lead up to the WSL 2020 Pipe Masters. Pull in and watch the pipe master at work.

The OG GOAT Tom Curren and friends

The OG GOAT Tom Curren and friends

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5r3Edj3dblk

The original GOAT, with a surfing style imitated by many, bettered by none. California’s Tom Curren is a style master, poetry in motion sliding through the aqua blue. Take time out of your day to enjoy Tom, Pat Curren and surfings anti-hero the ever so talented Bobby Martinez.

Koldo Illumbe – Tropic glide

Koldo Illumbe – Tropic glide

Half Basque/half Balinese super grom Koldo Illumbe, has a lifetime supply of perfect, left tubes. Click in and watch, somewhat with jealousy on my behalf as Koldo get’s endless dreamy kegs.

Girls Can’t Surf: The Untold Story

Girls Can’t Surf: The Untold Story

The untold story of how a band of renegade surfer girls in the 1980s fought to create their own professional sport, changing surf culture forever.

#GirlsCantSurf is coming to Australian cinemas March, 2021: http://mad.mn/girlscantsurf It’s the 1980s and the world of professional surfing is a circus of fluoro colours, peroxide hair and radical male egos. GIRLS CAN’T SURF follows the journey of a band of renegade surfers who took on the male-dominated professional surfing world to achieve equality and change the sport forever. Featuring surfing greats Jodie Cooper, Frieda Zamba, Pauline Menczer, Lisa Andersen, Pam Burridge, Wendy Botha, Layne Beachley and more, GIRLS CAN’T SURF is a wild ride of clashing personalities, sexism, adventure and heartbreak, with each woman fighting against the odds to make their dreams of competing a reality.

Florence Takes Pipe, Wright Maui Pro

Florence Takes Pipe, Wright Maui Pro

In a historic day for surfing, Tyler Wright (AUS) won the Maui Pro presented by ROXY, the first women’s World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT) competition to ever take place at the legendary Banzai Pipeline on Oahu’s North Shore. John John Florence (HAW) fulfilled his lifelong dream of winning the Billabong Pipe Masters presented by Hydro Flask at his home break in the esteemed competition’s 50th edition.

Two-time WSL Champion Wright made history today alongside four-time WSL Champion Carissa Moore (HAW), Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA), Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), and Sage Erickson (USA) after competing in the first-ever women’s CT Finals Day at the world-renowned Banzai Pipeline.
“I feel incredibly lucky to be here,” said Wright. “I think we wouldn’t be here without the women that came before us to pave the way, and today we are really standing on the shoulders of giants, I feel incredibly privileged to be here in the position that I am in.

“As a proud bisexual woman of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as an Australian, I’m delighted to be able to represent both this year on my competition jersey,” said Wright. “The Progress Pride flag represents a love that opened my eyes more to who I really am.”

Wright secured her 14th CT win today after defeating Moore in the Finals and Fitzgibbons in the Semifinals. The 26-year old showcased committed surfing in the Final, defeating Moore by only 1.11 points. At the beginning of the competition, Wright paddled out for her opening heat wearing an updated jersey showcasing the Progress Pride flag and wore it proudly through her final heat win today. Wright will continue to wear the updated jersey throughout the 2021 CT season.

In the men’s Final for the Billabong Pipe Masters, two-time WSL Champion Florence went head-to-head with fellow two-time WSL Champion Gabriel Medina (BRA), beating him out by 0.67 points with a combined score of 11.77 (out of a possible 20).

“I feel really good, especially just after the last couple of years and everything I’ve gone through with injuries and everything,” said Florence. “To be here at the first event of the year, winning in my home break, I can’t picture it going any better. It’s an amazing way to end 2020 and start the new year as well.”

Florence’s victory marks his first win at the Billabong Pipe Masters presented by Hydro Flask. He was the runner-up in 2017 and 2013, and did not compete in 2018 due to an injury that kept him out for much of the CT.

“The Pipe Masters for me is the biggest event on the Tour,” said Florence. “I’ve grown up watching my heroes surf this event and win the world titles out there. Everyone who surfs pipe has their own little relationship with that wave, and so to be able to win a competition out there is a big feat. For me, it’s one of my biggest goals.”

Billabong Pipe Masters and Maui Pro Competition Recap

The day began with Heat 4 in the Round of 16 for the Billabong Pipe Masters presented by Hydro Flask, 11-time WSL Champion Kelly Slater (USA) earned a combined 13.67, the high score in the Round of 16 against Jack Robinson(AUS), advancing to the Quarterfinals despite suffering an injury.

“I hurt myself mountain biking last week, then I did something to my heel three nights ago at Pipeline,” said Slater, after Heat 4 in the Round of 16, “I’m having a little trouble walking, but I can surf okay, I didn’t notice it too much when I surfed.”

Defending WSL Champion Italo Ferreira (BRA), two-time WSL Champion Gabriel Medina (BRA), Kanoa Igarashi (JPN), and Jeremy Flores (FRA) also advanced to the Quarterfinals after winning their heats in the Round of 16.

In Quarterfinal 1, Florence scored a combined 17.67 (out of a possible 20), the highest score of the Quarterfinal, after earning a 9.07 and 8.60 on two rides against Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA), winner of the Injury Wildcard surf-off. Defending champion Italo Ferreira won Quarterfinal 3 against Jeremy Flores (FRA) despite suffering an injury after hitting the reef on one of his rides. Slater and Medina also won their heats to advance to the Semifinals, with match-ups between the top two surfers in the United States and Brazil.

“It feels good to make it through, I look forward to surfing against Italo in the semifinals, which is going to be a good heat,” said Medina, after winning Heat 4 in the Quarterfinals, “it’s heat-by-heat, can’t wait for the next one.”

After the men’s Quarterfinal, it was time for the women’s competition, the first to ever take place at Banzai Pipeline during the Women’s CT. Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) won Heat 4 of the Quarterfinal against Sage Erickson(USA) with a combined score of 8.60 and advanced to the Semifinal to Moore.

“I’m so stoked to have this opportunity and I just want to represent women’s surfing the best I can,” said Weston-Webb, after winning Heat 4 in the Quarterfinal. “I’m really excited to get more time out there and get some amazing waves.”

In Semifinal 1, Wright won with a combined score of 10.50 against fellow Australian Sally Fitzgibbons. During Semifinal 2, Moore earned a combined score 16.60, including a 9.60 (out of a possible 10) on one of her rides against Weston-Webb.

“I’m just really proud to be competing in my hometown,” said Moore, after Semifinal 2. “I just feel all the support here, especially from my family watching at home on the other side of the island.”

In the men’s competition, Florence scored a combined 18.16, with a 9.23 on his first wave and 8.93 on his second in Semifinal 1 against Slater. Medina defeated Ferreira in Semifinal 2.

The Road to The WSL Finals
The Road to The WSL Finals has officially started in Hawaii. For the first time, the men’s and women’s World Titles will be decided in a single-day event, ‘The WSL Finals’. The top five women and top five men following the CT season will battle for their respective titles in a new surf-off format at one of the world’s best waves. The WSL Finals will take place at Lower Trestles, California from September 8 – 17, 2021.

The opening leg of the Championship Tour will resume in January at the Sunset Open from January 19 – 28, 2021.

Maui Pro presented by ROXY Final Results:
1 – Tyler Wright (AUS) 8.34
2 – Carissa Moore (HAW) 7.23

Maui Pro presented by ROXY Semifinal Results:
SF 1: Tyler Wright (AUS) 10.50 DEF. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 2.87
SF 2: Carissa Moore (HAW) 16.60 DEF. Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 2.47

Maui Pro presented by ROXY Quarterfinal Results:
QF 1: Tyler Wright (AUS) 18.33 DEF. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 12.40
QF 2: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 14.37 DEF. Lakey Peterson (USA) 11.30
QF 3: Carissa Moore (HAW) 15.04 DEF. Malia Manuel (HAW) 11.27
QF 4: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 8.60 DEF. Sage Erickson (USA) 6.30

Billabong Pipe Masters presented by Hydro Flask Final Results:
1 – John John Florence (HAW) 11.77
2 – Gabriel Medina (BRA) 11.10

Billabong Pipe Masters presented by Hydro Flask Semifinal Results:
SF 1: John John Florence (HAW) 18.16 DEF. Kelly Slater (USA) INT
SF 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 12.60 DEF. Italo Ferreira (BRA) 8.57

Billabong Pipe Masters presented by Hydro Flask Quarterfinal Results:
QF 1: John John Florence (HAW) 17.67 DEF. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 10.17
QF 2: Kelly Slater (USA) 6.23 DEF. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 1.90
QF 3: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 13.34 DEF. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 10.53
QF 4: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 9.13 vs. Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 7.06

Billabong Pipe Masters presented by Hydro Flask Round of 16 Results:
Heat 1: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 10.33 DEF. Peterson Crisanto (BRA) 6.73
Heat 2: John John Florence (HAW) 8.50 DEF. Matthew McGillivray (ZAF) 5.73
Heat 3: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 11.67 DEF. Caio Ibelli (BRA) 1.63
Heat 4: Kelly Slater (USA) 13.67 DEF. Jack Robinson (AUS) 11.67
Heat 5: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 13.00 DEF. Ryan Callinan (AUS) 5.27
Heat 6: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 8.80 DEF. Miguel Pupo (BRA) 4.83
Heat 7: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 11.56 DEF. Jack Freestone (AUS) 6.67
Heat 8: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 12.33 DEF. Jadson Andre (BRA) 11.54

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.